U.S. Women's Update for Feb. 8

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Feb. 8, 2011) – The current U.S. Women's National Team Weekly update released on Feb. 8 includes briefs on U.S. players competing overseas and other team news.

U.S. WOMEN TO HOST JAPAN GIRLS’ YOUTH TEAM: The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team will host the Japanese Girls’ Youth National Team in Anaheim, Calif., from Feb. 25 to March 4. The visiting squad, which includes former U.S. Women’s National Team volunteer assistant coach Gen Kawakita as an assistant coach, will train at the American Sports Centers and scrimmage against local junior clubs and the U.S. Women’s National Training Team at venues in the Southern California Orange County area. A full detailed schedule will be available later this month once all details are determined.

MORRISON, SIX AMERICANS ON ONE AUSTRIAN TEAM: U.S. Women’s National Team Assistant Coach Jamie Morrison (Dana Point, Calif.) is serving as head coach of the Austrian Post Schwechat team during the 2010-11 season. The team has six American players including Jill Collymore (Seattle), Alexis Crimes (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.), Jessica Jones (Naperville, Ill.), Tamari Miyashiro (Kaneohe, Hawaii), Angie Pressey (Lake Mary, Fla.) and Courtney Thompson (Kent, Wash.). Post Schwechat competes in the Middle European Volleyball Zonal Association (teams from Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia). In CEV Cup action, Post Schwechat edged Turkey’s Galatasaray 15-25, 25-13, 25-16, 23-25, 18-16 in the first match of a home-and-home series in the 4th Final Round. Pressey scored 16 points for Post Schwechat, including 14 kills on 28 swings and two blocks. Jones was unstoppable at the net with 10 blocks, two kills on four swings to four aces. Crimes added nine points with seven kills on 18 swings and two aces. Thompson set Post Schwechat to a 42 kill percent while adding three individual points. Miyashiro was the libero for the match, compiling an 82 positive reception percent on 28 attempts. The teams complete the series on Feb. 9 with Post Schwechat in the driver’s seat to advance to the semifinal round. The match video will be available by clicking here. Post Schwechat was idle in the MEVZA league this past week and next challenge A. Linz-Steg on Feb. 12.

SYKORA, ALISHA GLASS SETTING TABLES FOR VOLEI FUTURO IN BRAZIL: Three-time U.S. Olympian Stacy Sykora (Burleson, Texas) and U.S. Women’s National Team setter Alisha Glass (Leland, Mich.) are competing for Volei Futuro in the Brazilian Superliga during the 2010-11 professional club season. Volei Futuro defeated Banana Boat/Praia Clube 27-25, 25-18, 19-25, 30-28 on Feb. 5 to open the second half of the Brazilian Superliga. Volei Futuro then captured a 21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21 victory over Usiminas on Feb. 8. Sykora was the libero for both matches, while Glass was still absent with an injury.

FAWCETT IN BRAZIL WITH USIMINAS MINAS: Nicole Fawcett (Zanesfield, Ohio), a U.S. Women’s National Team opposite, is playing the 2010-11 professional club season in Brazil with Usiminas Minas. Fawcett scored a match-high 34 points in helping Usiminas to a 25-22, 22-25, 25-23, 18-25, 15-12 victory over BMG/Mackenzie on Feb. 6 to open the second half of the Brazilian Superliga. She was credited with 29 kills on 66 attacks, three blocks and two aces in the victory. However, Usiminas dropped a 21-25, 25-19, 25-23, 25-21 match to Volei Futuro on Feb. 8. Fawcett tallied 11 points in the loss with 10 of her points via kills on 29 attacks.

SCOTT-ARRUDA IN BRAZIL WITH SAO BERNARDO: Four-time U.S. Olympian Danielle Scott-Arruda (Baton Rouge, La.) is back on the volleyball court after giving birth last spring and is playing for BMG Sao Bernardo in the Brazilian Superliga. Scott collected 13 points in helping Sao Bernardo to a 17-25, 25-18, 30-28, 25-15 victory over Sao Caetano on Feb. 4 to open the second half of the Brazilian Superliga. She turned in nine kills on 14 attacks and four blocks in the victory. However, Sao Bernardo dropped a close four-set match (21-25, 25-23, 27-25, 25-20 to Macae Sports on Feb. 7. Scott-Arruda scored a match-high 17 points with 11 kills off 27 attacks and six blocks.

LARSON WITH KAZAN IN RUSSIA: U.S. Women’s National Team outside hitter Jordan Larson (Hooper, Neb.) is playing for Dinamo Kazan of the Russia Super League during the 2010-2011 pro club season. She helped Kazan to a 25-20, 25-18, 25-19 victory over Omichka on Feb. 6. Larson scored 13 points in the victory with 11 kills on 29 swings, one block and one ace. She added 41 service receptions and a 56 positive reception percent. Kazan is now 10-1 on the season and in second place in the Russia Super League and resumes action on Feb. 13 against Avtodor-METAR.

BARBOZA IN RUSSIA WITH KRASNODAR: Cynthia Barboza (Long Beach, Calif.), an outside hitter for the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing for Dinamo Krasnodar of the Russia Super League in the 2010-11 professional club season. Krasnador topped Nugget 25-21, 28-26, 25-20 on Feb. 5 to improve to 9-2 on the season and remain in third place in the league standings. Barboza, who has been in the starting lineup much of the season, was absent from the active roster for the match. Krasnador resumes Super League action on Feb. 13 against Lenigradka. IN CEV Cup action on Feb. 2, Krasnodar swept Switzerland’s Sagres Neuchatel Universite 25-21, 25-15, 25-16 in the first match of a home-and-home series. The teams meet again on Feb. 10 to close out the 4th Final Round series.

HOOKER WITH ITALY’S PESARO: Destinee Hooker (San Antonio, Texas), who played her first season with the U.S. Women’s National Team in 2010, is currently competing for Scavolini Pesaro of the Italian Serie A League. In CEV Champions League action, Pesaro edged Russia powerhouse Dinamo Moscow 19-25, 25-14, 19-25, 27-25, 15-10 on Feb. 3 in the first of two home-and-home Playoff 12 matches in the CEV Champions League. Hooker contributed a team-high 31 points with 26 kills on 48 swings, four blocks and an ace. The two squads meet again on Feb. 10 to close out the series. Dinamo Moscow needs to win the match plus a Golden Set to advance to the next round. In the Italian Serie A league, Pesaro continued its winning streak with a 25-22, 25-23, 25-22 victory over Spes Conegliano on Feb. 6 in a battle of the top two teams. Hooker claimed 14 kills on 21 attacks, one ace and one block for a team-high 16 points in the victory. She also accepted 21 of the team’s 46 service receptions. Pesaro, now 7-3 on the season with 23 points and a four-match win streak, plays Rebecchi Nordmeccanica Piacenza on Feb. 13 in its next match.

BERG, HODGE WITH VILLA CORTESE IN ITALY: U.S. Women’s National Team setter Lindsey Berg (Honolulu) and Megan Hodge (Durham, N.C.) are competing for MC-Carnaghi Villa Cortese in the Italian Serie A league during the 2010-11 professional club season. Villa Cortese lost to Poland’s Bank BPS Fakro Muszyna 25-16, 26-24, 23-25, 21-25, 16-14 on Feb. 3 in the first of a home-and-home playoff series in the CEV Champions League Playoff 12 round. Hodge scored 22 points with 19 kills on a team-high 51 swings to go with three blocks from her opposite position. Berg set the squad to a 36 kill percent for the match while adding two kills on three swings and a block. Villa Cortese must defeat their Polish opponent on Feb. 9 in addition to a Golden Set immediately after the match to advance to the Playoff 6 Round. In Italian Serie A action, Villa Cortese (6-4) lost to previously winless Riso Scotti Pavia (1-9) 25-18, 17-25, 25-16, 25-21 on Feb. 6 as Berg did not compete in the match at setter. Hodge played and started just the first set, scoring two kills on eight attacks. Villa Cortese, now in seventh place in the league standings with 16 points and a 6-4 record, plays second-place Spes Conegliano on Feb. 12.

PAOLINI WITH NOVARA IN ITALY: Lauren Paolini (Ann Arbor, Mich.), a middle blocker on the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing this professional season in Italy with Asystel Volley Novara of the Italian Serie A Division. On Feb. 6, Novara defeated Florens Castellana Grotte 25-20, 25-21, 23-25, 27-25 to improve to 5-5 on the season. Paolini subbed into the match in the third set and started the fourth set while compiling three blocks and a kill on three attacks. Novara is in sixth place with 17 points and will challenge LIU-JO Volley Modena in its next contest on Feb. 13.

AKINRADEWO WITH TOYOTA IN JAPAN: Foluke Akinradewo (Plantation, Fla.), a middle blocker with the U.S. Women’s National Team, is currently playing for Toyota Autobody in Japan’s V-League for the 2010-11 professional season. Toyota improved to 8-10 on the season after breaking a six-match losing streak and winning both its matches this past weekend. Toyota rallied past Okayama 18-25, 27-25, 25-19, 25-16 on Feb. 5 as Akinradewo scored 30 points with 28 kills on 48 swings and two blocks. Toyota swept Denso 25-14, 25-19, 25-18 on Feb. 6 as Akinradewo collected 17 points, all on kills via 24 attacks. Toyota returns to the court versus NEC on Feb. 12 and JT on Feb. 13. Both matches will be played at Hyougo.

BOWN WITH TURKEY’S ECZACIBASI: Heather Bown (Yorba Linda, Calif.), a three-time Olympic Games middle blocker for the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing in Turkey for Eczacibasi during the 2010-11 professional club season. In CEV Champions League action, Eczacibasi turned back France’s RC Cannes 25-20, 25-20, 25-22 on Feb. 1 to start the Playoff 12 home-and-home series. Bown collected six kills on nine attacks to go with one block and one ace for eight points in the victory. The teams meet again on Feb. 9 in the rematch with RC Cannes needing to win the match and a Golden Set to stop Eczacibasi from advancing to the Playoff 6 Round. In the Turkish League, Eczacibasi blanked Nilufer Belediye Spor 28-26, 25-14, 26-24 on Feb. 5. Bown did not compete in the contest.

SPICER WITH POLAND’S GCB CENTROSTAL BYDGOSZCZ: Nellie Spicer (Barrington, Ill.), a setter for the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing in the Polish professional league this winter for GCB Centrostal Bydgoszrcz. Spicer’s squad lost to ATOM Trefl Sopot 25-22, 25-21, 25-22 on Feb. 5 in the 10th round. Spicer’s squad converted just 27 percent of its swings for points in the loss. GCB Centrostal Bydgoszrcz will challenge AZS Bialystok on Feb. 12 in the 11th round of the Polish league.

KIM GLASS WITH RABITA BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: Kim Glass (Lancaster, Pa.), a 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist with the U.S. Women’s National Team, is competing for Rabita Baku of the Azerbaijan professional league in 2010-11. In addition to the Azerbaijan Super League, Glass’ Rabita Baku squad is competing in the CEV Champions League Playoff 12 Round. In the first match of the home-and-home series with Czech Republic’s VK Modranska Prostejov, Rabita Baku lost a heart-breaker 19-25, 25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 21-19 in an extended five-set match played at Prostejov. Glass scored 21 points in the loss with 18 kills on 46 swings, two aces and a block. She also handled 41 of her team’s 104 service receptions with a 44 positive percent. The two teams meet again on Feb. 10. For Rabita Baku to advance to the Playoff 6 Round, it will need to defeat Prostejov in the return match and win the Golden Set immediately after the contest (if needed).

TAMAS WITH AZERRAIL BAKU: Jennifer Tamas (Milpitas, Calif.), a 2008 Olympic Games silver medalist playing middle blocker for Team USA, is playing for Azerrail Baku of the Azerbaijan Super during the 2010-11 professional club season. In addition, Azerrail continues its success in the CEV GM Capital Challenge Cup as it won both its Playoff Round 8 matches this past weekend to advance to the Playoff 4 Round. On Feb. 1, Azerrail handled Ukraine’s Khimik Yuzhny Odessa 25-14, 25-18, 25-13 to open the home-and-home series in the Playoff 8 Round, then followed up with a 25-15, 25-14, 25-18 victory on Feb. 8 to sweep the series. Azerrail will face the Playoff 8 Winner of Switzerland’s Kanti Schaffhausen and Finland’s LP Salo in the Playoff 4 Round with home-and-home matches held between Feb. 22 and March 3.

IGTISADCHI LOADED WITH AMERICANS IN AZERBAIJAN: Two-time Olympian and 2008 Olympic silver medalist Tayyiba Haneef-Park (Laguna Hills, Calif.) is playing for Igtisadchi of the Azerbaijan Super League. Igtisadchi continued its success in the CEV GM Capital Challenge Cup by winning both its home-and-home series matches against Romania’s Stinta Bacau in the Playoff 8 Round to advance to the Playoff 4 Round. In the first match, Igtisadchi won 25-22, 25-23, 25-17 on Feb. 2, then held off its opponent 25-17, 26-24, 23-25, 25-10 on Feb. 8 to win the series. Igtisadchi will face the Playoff 8 winner between Czech Republic’s Kralovo Polo Brno and Belgium’s Dauphines Charleroi in the Playoff 4 Round with home-and-home matches held between Feb. 22 and March 3.

DAVIS, METCALF, RICHARDS HEADLINE LOKOMOTIV BAKU IN AZERBAIJAN: U.S. Olympians Nicole Davis (Stockton, Calif.) and Nancy Metcalf (Hull, Iowa), along with 2008 U.S. Olympic Team alternate Kristin Richards (Orem, Utah), are playing for Lokomotiv Baku of the Azerbaijan Super League. In the CEV GM Capital Challenge Cup, Lokomotiv advanced to the Playoff 4 Round by winning both its home-and-home matches with Cyprus’ Apollon Limassol in the Round of 8. In the first meeting, Lokomotiv won 25-19, 25-15, 25-18 on Feb. 1, then won the return match 25-19, 25-23, 25-19 on Feb. 8. Lokomotiv advances to the Playoff 4 Round to face the Playoff 8 winner between Belgium’s VDK Gent Dames and Germany’s Schweriner SC with home-and-home matches held between Feb. 22 and March 3.

TOM WITH GUANGDONG HENGDA IN CHINA UNDER FORMER U.S. HEAD COACH: Three-time U.S. Olympian Logan Tom (Salt Lake City, Utah) is playing for Guangdong Hengda (also known as Evergrande) in the Chinese club league’s top division. Evergrande, led by 2008 U.S. Olympic Games head coach “Jenny” Lang Ping, was idle this past week. The squad, 8-2 and in second place, looks to regroup on Feb. 12 against August Keming. Tianjin is in first place with a 9-1 record.

WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM OPEN TRYOUTS: USA Volleyball will hold its annual open tryouts for the U.S. Women’s National Team and Associated Training Programs Feb. 25-27, 2011, at the U.S. Olympic Training Center (USOTC) in Colorado Springs, Colo. U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Hugh McCutcheon will lead the evaluation process for the tryout, which is open to current college-age athletes and older, as well as high school athletes born in 1993 or earlier. All tryout participants must be U.S. citizens and are required to provide proof of valid health insurance coverage upon their arrival at the tryout. For the complete details on the tryout, click here.